John Sturbin, Senior Writer

John Sturbin joined the staff of RacinToday.com after a 35-year career in the daily newspaper business, the last 12 as nationally recognized motorsports beat writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He was point-man for the paper’s expanded and award-winning motorsports coverage beginning in the mid-1990s, centered around NASCAR and IndyCar series events at Texas Motor Speedway.
Sturbin covered his first Indianapolis 500 in 1980, and has staffed “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” every year since. He regularly has covered the National Hot Rod Association’s annual event at Texas Motorplex in Ennis since the mid-1980s.
A native of Rome, N.Y., Sturbin first followed the careers of NASCAR Modified champions Richie Evans and Jerry Cook at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., as a fan before eventually covering both drivers as sports writer at The Daily Sentinel.
While at The Sentinel, Sturbin began staffing Formula One’s annual autumn visit to Watkins Glen International during the mid-1970s. Since moving to Fort Worth in October 1978, he has covered Formula One events on street circuits in Dallas and Phoenix and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Sturbin’s international travels while covering professional boxing led to a freelance assignment staffing the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans for The Associated Press. He also has authored freelance articles for numerous clients, including Texas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
John has served as a voting member of the Driver of the Year media panel since 1996, as well as various industry-related hall of fame selection committees.
Sturbin received the prestigious Bloys Britt Award in motorsports, as judged by The Associated Press, for a feature on IndyCar icon A.J. Foyt Jr.’s rehabilitation from devastating foot and leg injuries. He also is a past recipient of the National Hot Rod Association’s Media Award.
During his tenure at the Star-Telegram, Sturbin received numerous in-house awards for motorsports coverage, including Editorial Employee of the Month and Spot News Story of the Year for his report on the death of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt in February 2001.
In addition to his motorsports resume, Sturbin logged two stints covering the Dallas Cowboys as backup beat writer. He also has covered the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA, NHL, NCAA football and basketball, World Gymnastics Championships and various high school and semi-pro sports.
A graduate of Utica (N.Y.) College, Sturbin is a classic car and motorcycle enthusiast. He resides in Southwest Fort Worth.

Articles by John Sturbin

Saturday, Jun 18, 2016  7:42 | Comments Off on Dixon Set For ‘European Version of Indy 500’

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Open-wheel star Scott Dixon will embellish his world-class racing resume this weekend as a first-time participant in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Less than a month after competing in the 100th edition of the Indianapolis 500, Dixon is part of a four-car team marking the Ford GT’s historic victory at […]

FORT WORTH, Texas – Frustrated by back-to-back days of intermittent-to-sideways rain showers and one grinding crash, INDYCAR and Texas Motor Speedway officials relented Sunday afternoon and pulled the plug on the Firestone 600 for 75 days.
The 20th edition of “America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Race” will be run on Saturday, Aug. 27, as a one-day event […]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
FORT WORTH, Texas – INDYCAR officials postponed Saturday night’s running of the 20th Firestone 600 after prolonged attempts to dry Texas Motor Speedway proved futile.
The Verizon IndyCar Series race has been rescheduled for 1:15 p.m. (CDT) Sunday. Gates, suites and Victory Lane Club will open at 11 a.m. There will be no […]

Saturday, Jun 11, 2016  17:08 | Comments Off on Water Adds Another Layer Of Intrigue To IndyCar Race In Texas

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
FORT WORTH, Texas _ Rain in and around Texas Motor Speedway unexpectedly has thrown another element for Verizon IndyCar Series teams to consider heading into Saturday night’s Firestone 600.
After practice and qualifying conducted with ambient temperatures in the mid-90s and track temps at times exceeding 130 degrees, TMS’ high-banked, 1.5-mile […]

Saturday, Jun 11, 2016  16:58 | Comments Off on Rossi Views His Life Like A Mid-’80s Teen Movie

FORT WORTH, Texas _ Whenever art imitates life for reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi, it’s often in the form of flashbacks from The Breakfast Club.
The man who said he doesn’t eat breakfast lists the 1985 coming-of-age movie as his favorite, and it’s not because he has an ongoing thing for Molly Ringwald as Claire […]

FORT WORTH, Texas _Teen-ager William Byron overhauled Matt Crafton with five laps remaining and drove to victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rattlesnake 400 Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
Byron, of Kyle Busch Motorsports, posted his second NCWTS victory at the expense of Crafton, who dominated the 167-lapper after brushing the Turn 3 […]

Friday, Jun 10, 2016  20:39 | Comments Off on Rahal Hauls It During Final Practice

FORT WORTH, Texas – Graham Rahal rallied from a disappointing qualifying effort and an overall frustrating Friday to the top of the speed chart during the final Verizon IndyCar Series practice leading into Saturday night’s 20th annual Firestone 600.
Rahal toured TMS’ high-banked, 1.5-mile quadoval in 24.4841-seconds and 213.935 mph during a 47-lap run in conditions […]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
FORT WORTH, Texas – Carlos Munoz checked-off another box in his emerging open-wheel career Friday afternoon, earning his first career Verizon IndyCar Series P1 Award for the 20th annual Firestone 600.
Munoz toured TMS’ high-banked, 1.5-mile quadoval in a combined 48.2460-seconds at 217.137 mph to finish on-pole for the first time […]

Friday, Jun 10, 2016  17:19 | Comments Off on Custer All Pomped Up At Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas – A day late and perhaps an adult beverage or two short, Cole Custer will graduate from Tesoro High School Friday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway.
Custer’s walk across the pre-race stage for the 20th annual Rattlesnake 400 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday evening definitely will be different. While his classmates at Tesoro […]